Corylus is a genus that is perhaps better-known in Europe than North America, but though we may not know the plant, almost everyone knows its edible seed, the hazelnut. The genus--belonging to the birch family, Betulaceae--contains around a dozen or so species, most of which are shrubs. There is one species that has made its way into local urban forests--the Turkish hazel, Corylus colurna.
Turkish hazel is a larger tree, reaching 80 feet in its native range, though I am unaware of any large trees locally. It is uncommon in our area, and because it is slower growing tree, we will have to wait to see its mature size in our climate and soils. It is reportedly adaptable to many environmental stressors, and resists pests and disease but can be difficult to transplant successfully. They have a neat, pyramidal form, with some individuals being almost columnar. Their nuts are edible, as with all hazelnuts, but are smaller than commercial varieties with a thicker shell. The few I have seen are quite healthy, so it could be a tree that is ready for wider trials.
Turkish hazel is a larger tree, reaching 80 feet in its native range, though I am unaware of any large trees locally. It is uncommon in our area, and because it is slower growing tree, we will have to wait to see its mature size in our climate and soils. It is reportedly adaptable to many environmental stressors, and resists pests and disease but can be difficult to transplant successfully. They have a neat, pyramidal form, with some individuals being almost columnar. Their nuts are edible, as with all hazelnuts, but are smaller than commercial varieties with a thicker shell. The few I have seen are quite healthy, so it could be a tree that is ready for wider trials.